CN111432677A

CN111432677A - Head-mounted enhanced vision system for displaying thermal images

Info

Publication number: CN111432677A
Application number: CN201980006133.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 洛里斯·威特斯; 乔纳森·普莱斯; 阿德里安·博巴莫尔; 马丁纳斯·鲍世
Original assignee: Darius Saar LLC
Current assignee: Darius Saar LLC
Priority date: 2018-01-24
Filing date: 2019-01-24
Publication date: 2020-07-17
Also published as: US20200366872A1; SG11202004924VA; US11228738B2; EP3697241A1; WO2019145886A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an enhanced vision system (1) comprising: a display device (3), the display device (3) comprising: a fixation element (31) for coupling the display device (3) to a head-mounted part (90), the head-mounted part (90) being configured to be positioned in front of a 5-face (102) of a user (100), and a display body (32) coupled to the fixation element (31) by a pivoting link (321, 322, 323), the pivoting link (321, 322, 323) providing rotation of the display body relative to the fixation element about a rotation axis (38); the display main body (32) includes: 10 a display (33) configured to display thermal data and/or a thermal image (331) provided by the thermal sensing device (2); and a first surface portion (325), configured such that when said head-mounted part (90) is positioned in front of the face of the user, the first surface portion (325) is in contact with the forehead of the user, thereby rotating the body (32) of the display 15 about the rotation axis (38) to a predefined angular position (381).

Description

Head-mounted enhanced vision system for displaying thermal images

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a head mounted augmented vision system for displaying thermal data and/or thermal images provided by a thermal sensing device.

In particular, the present invention relates to an enhanced vision system for users, especially for professionals working in difficult and extreme environments and equipped with protective hoods, such as firefighters, men/women policemen and rescuers.

Background

There is an increasing interest in enhanced vision (AV) systems for supporting users, particularly professionals performing difficult and dangerous tasks. Augmented Vision (AV), also known as Augmented Reality (AR), provides a real-time direct or indirect view of an entity, the real-world environment, in which the view of certain elements is modified (augmented or even diminished) by computer-generated or extracted sensing inputs of the real world. In particular, for efficiency and safety, the AV system may provide (particularly extracted and/or provided by sensors sensing the surrounding environment) a small number of invisible elements or cues in the user's field of view.

The speed of operations of professionals such as firefighters, men/women's police and rescue workers working in difficult and extreme environments is slowed down due to special weather events, weather (e.g., fog), darkness, and low visibility due to heavy smoke from a fire.

US2014071294 describes a head mounted sensing system for use in extreme environments comprising a transparent display for displaying thermal data. The transparent display is mounted on an outer surface of the respiratory mask and is configured to provide vertical and horizontal movement of image pixels to align a displayed image with the eyes of a user.

US2003058544 discloses a system for displaying infrared images reordered by a camera located on the helmet of a user. The image is displayed by projecting the image through a projector onto a partially transparent lens that is positioned within the user's field of view.

US2016253561 describes a firefighter's respiratory mask that includes a transparent display for displaying thermal data provided by a camera. The transparent display is mounted within the visor of a firefighter's respiratory mask.

However, known enhanced vision AV systems suffer from serious drawbacks, inter alia, in terms of time to enable (i.e., the time required to wear the mask and properly position the displayed image relative to the user's eyes to make the AV system available), longevity, and sharing of AV components with other users and/or other headgear.

AV systems with a display mounted on the exterior of the visor of the mask have a short activation time, since it is possible to fine-tune the displayed image at any time without having to remove the mask. However, these AV systems are costly to manufacture and maintain because displays lacking mask protection are constantly and repeatedly exposed to extreme environments.

Although AV systems with display devices affixed to the inner surface of the visor of the mask are protected from damage by aggressive substances, heat and dust. However, any adjustment to the position of the AV display requires removal of the mask, which can negatively impact not only the activation time of the AV system, but also the protection from potentially harmful gases provided by the airtight mask.

In addition, these AV systems require mechanical modifications and adaptations to the mask frame, which not only makes it more difficult or even impossible to share the head-mounted AV system between different users, but also to use the same AV system in various head-mounted elements.

US2015302654 describes a thermal imaging system mounted on a goggle type structure. However, due to the constant pressure that the goggles are pushed against the face by the mask, goggle-based AV systems are uncomfortable to users who have to wear the mask for long periods of time to intervene. Furthermore, such goggle-based AV systems are not compatible with facial-type airtight masks.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to solve or at least reduce the disadvantages of the known AV systems.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide an AV system that is cost-effective and fast to enable.

It is another specific object of the present invention to provide an AV system that can be used with airtight masks, comfortably with long interventions.

According to the present invention, these objects are achieved by the enhanced vision system of claim 1 and the method of claim 22. The dependent claims describe specific embodiments of the invention.

The proposed solution provides: repeatable positioning of the display relative to the user's eyes when the user places the head-mounted component in front of the user's face. The repeatable angular position provided by contact between the first surface portion and the user's forehead not only provides quick activation, but also provides better comfort when used in conjunction with an airtight mask that is pushed forcefully against the face. Indeed, the larger surface provided by the forehead and the lack of soft tissue and cartilage on the forehead provides better pressure redistribution and less sensitivity to sustained pressure relative to other facial regions that serve as contact surfaces, such as the nose and eye regions.

In an embodiment, the display device is configured to rotate the display body to push the first surface portion against the forehead of the user when the head-mounted part is positioned on the face of the user. Such rotation holds the display body in a predefined angular position about the rotation axis, in particular in case acceleration and/or vibrations of the head-mounted part are adversely affected.

The holding rotation may be provided by gravity and/or a spring force.

In one embodiment, the display device is configured to rotate the display body (relative to the fixed element) by gravity, thereby moving the first surface away from the head-mounted element (on which the display device is fixed) when the head-mounted component is not positioned in front of the face but is positioned and/or held in a similar position.

Alternatively or additionally, the display device comprises a resilient element providing a resilient force acting between the display body and the fixation element to rotate the display body to urge the first surface against the forehead of the user when the head-mounted part is positioned in front of the face of the user.

Alternatively or additionally, the display device may be configured to hold the display body in the predefined angular position by a second surface portion configured to contact a portion of the fixation element when the head-mounted component is positioned in front of the face of the user. Advantageously, the second surface is located on the opposite side with respect to the first surface, so that the forces generated by contact with the forehead and the fixation element are oriented in opposite oblique or parallel directions.

Advantageously, for comfort, the display body may comprise a resilient portion operating between the first surface and the second surface for resiliently adapting a distance, in particular a shortest distance, between the first surface and the second surface. This enables the proposed solution to be comfortably used with airtight masks that need to be pushed hard against the user's face, for example by elastic bands, straps, or by elements that fit against the user's nape or that are coupled with the user's protective helmet.

In a preferred embodiment, the display device comprises an adjustment mechanism providing a relative translation of the first surface portion with respect to the fixation element.

The adjustment mechanism provides an adaptation of the relative position of the display with respect to the eyes of the user by modifying (adjusting) the angular position of the display body about its axis of rotation when the head-mounted part is positioned in front of the user's face, taking into account the user's specificity, in particular the user's facial features and/or the way the head-mounted element is positioned.

If the head-mounted component is an airtight mask that must be pushed against the face of the user, the adjustment mechanism also provides for adjustment of the pressure that the first surface exerts on the forehead when the user wears the airtight mask.

In addition, the adjustment mechanism provides for simple sharing of the same display device among multiple users, as it allows for adaptation to each of these users according to their specificity.

In one embodiment, the adjustment mechanism is configured to indicate a plurality of discrete positions along the translation axis. This embodiment provides for a faster and simpler sharing of the same display device among multiple users. In fact, each user can easily pan the display body to one of the positions that have been previously determined (particularly during dead time or system setup) to provide them with the required camera position and/or the required comfort.

In one embodiment, the display device is removable from the fixation element. Alternatively or additionally, the thermal camera is removable from the head-mounted base.

These configurations provide for the selective use of the same display body and/or the same thermal camera with a plurality of different head-mounted elements and/or hoods, each of which is (pre-) equipped with a fixation element and/or a head-mounted base that enhances the vision system.

In one embodiment, the enhanced vision system includes a camera adjustment mechanism for adjusting a sensing direction of the thermal camera relative to the head-mounted base. This embodiment enables the user to associate the display image with the target seen in the field of view without having to remove the mask.

Drawings

The invention will be better understood by means of the description of an embodiment given by way of example and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a view of an enhanced vision system coupled to a protective helmet with a visor worn by a user, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a view of a thermal sensing device and a display device of the enhanced vision system of FIG. 1;

fig. 3a to 3e illustrate steps of coupling the display main body of the display device of fig. 1 with a fixing member;

FIGS. 4a to 4d show steps in an installation process of the display device of FIG. 1 with a mask;

figures 5a to 5d illustrate the steps of coupling the thermal sensing device of figure 1 to a helmet;

fig. 6 shows a view of components of the thermal sensing device of fig. 1.

Fig. 7 shows a view of components of the display device of fig. 1.

Fig. 8 to 11 show other embodiments of the display device according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 and 2 show an exemplary embodiment of an augmented vision AV system 1 for providing a user with thermal data and/or images about an entity, an element of a real-world environment. The user may be a professional working in difficult and extreme environments, such as firemen, welders, men/women's police and rescuers, and even drivers, pilots. The user may be a general person such as a male/female athlete, a cyclist and a walker who is entertaining and/or moving in low visibility environments, especially in special weather events, weather (e.g. fog) or dim conditions.

The AV system 1 is advantageously configured to provide a series of thermal data and/or thermal images 331 by means of a thermal sensing device configured to sense the temperature of an element in the real world environment (i.e. the level or intensity of heat present in said element) of the entity the user is working on.

Advantageously, the thermal sensing means comprises a thermal camera 221 sensing a temperature grid of the object within its field of view (according to the sensing direction 223) in order to deliver an image (i.e. a two-dimensional array or grid representation) of the sensed temperature. Advantageously, the AV system 1 may be configured to display an image in which the sensed temperature levels or intensities given in the image are represented by different colors or gray scales.

Preferably, for efficiency and security, the thermal camera 221 provides a series of images in a continuous manner (e.g., at an image rate of at least 10 images/second, preferably in excess of 30 images/second) to enhance invisible or low visibility elements in the field of view.

The enhanced vision system 1 comprises a display device 3 intended to be mounted on a head-mounted part 90 configured to be positioned in front of the face of a user 100.

The display device 3 comprises a display 33 configured to display thermal data and/or thermal images 331 provided by the thermal sensing device 2 (in particular by its thermal camera 221).

Advantageously, the thermal sensing means 2 of the AV system 1 are head-mounted thermal sensing means. For example, the heat sensing means may be a separate heat sensing means configured to be fixed directly to the user's head by means of elastic bands or a rack (grid). Alternatively or additionally, the heat sensing means is configured to be secured to (or part of) a hood, which is typically a protective hood 9, as in the exemplary embodiment of fig. 1.

When the thermal sensing means is coupled to the head of the user, it allows not only hands-free work but also sensing of the temperature of the object in a sensing direction 223 following the direction of the face of the user.

Preferably, the thermal sensing device 2 is configured to provide thermal data and/or thermal images to the display 33 via the wireless link 4.

In the exemplary embodiment of fig. 1, the head-mounted component is an airtight mask 90 coupled to a protective helmet 9 worn by a user 100. For example, the head-mounted component may be any component that is constructed, predefined, or adapted to be placed in front of the user's face for safety, comfort, motility, and/or entertainment. The head-mounted component may be configured to be positioned in front of the user's face with or without direct contact with a portion of the face. The head-mounted component may be configured, predefined, or adapted to contact a portion of the user's face and/or head. The head-mounted component may thus be urged by gravity against and/or placed on a portion of the user's face, such as goggles and masks. Optionally, the head-worn component may be configured, predefined, or adapted to couple to the head of the user (either directly or through a hood) so as to be held in front of the user's face in a non-contact manner with a visor, such as a face shield or hood.

As shown in fig. 1 and 3a to 3e, the display device 3 comprises a fixing element 31 for coupling the display device 3 to the headset member 90. Advantageously, the fixation element 31 is configured to be removably attached to the headset 90, preferably without tools. The removable fixing element allows the complete removal of the display device 3 from the head-mounted unit for maintenance and/or repair. In particular, the removable fixing element allows cleaning and/or sterilization of the head-mounted part, by liquid alone and/or by a heat treatment, which could potentially damage the components of the display device 3.

The display device 3 further comprises a display body 32 supporting a display 33, the display 33 being configured to display thermal data and/or a thermal image 331 provided by the thermal sensing device 2. The display body 32 is coupled to the fixed element 31 by

pivot links

321, 322, 323, the pivot links 321, 322, 323 providing rotation of the display body relative to the fixed element about the axis of rotation 38. Advantageously, the pivot link provides free rotation of the display body about the axis of rotation 38 through an angle of up to 45 ° (preferably in the range of 5 ° to 15 °).

The pivot link may be accomplished by (by) magnets, plastic clips, or other mounting/dismounting mechanisms, the purpose of which is to provide quick assembly while maintaining some or all of the rotating and adjustment components.

The display main body includes a surface portion 325, the surface portion 325 being configured to contact the forehead of the user when the head-mounted part 90 is positioned in front of the face of the user. The display body is then configured to rotate the display body 32 about the axis of rotation 38 to a predetermined angular position 381 relative to the fixing element when the surface portion 325 is in contact with the forehead of the user.

With the forehead of the user as a spatial reference, this rotation to the predefined angular position provides a fast and repeatable positioning of the display 33 with respect to the eye 101 of the user.

Preferably, the axis of rotation 38 is substantially parallel (e.g., +/-10) to an imaginary line through the user's eyes 101 when the head-mounted component 90 is positioned in front of the user's face.

Advantageously, the display body shown is configured to rotate 382 the display body about the same axis of rotation 38, pushing the first surface portion 325 against the forehead of the user when the headset is positioned on the face of the user. This rotation 382 is opposite to the rotation 383 that results from contact between the display body and the user's forehead. This keeps the display body in a predefined angular position 381 (see fig. 3e), especially in case acceleration and/or vibrations affect the head-mounted part.

The counter rotation 382 may be provided by a spring force acting between the fixation element and the display body and/or by gravity, i.e. by a special spatial division of the mass within the display body with respect to the pivot links 321, 322, 323.

Fig. 3a to 3e and 7 show an advantageous embodiment of a display device 3 having a display body removably coupled with a fixation element. This embodiment allows the display body to be individually assigned to each professional of the team, while providing the team with a limited number of safety helmets.

Advantageously, the display device 3 further comprises adjustment means 311, 321 providing a relative translation of said first surface portion 325 with respect to the fixed element 31.

The adjustment mechanism of fig. 3a to 3e comprises sliding

links

311, 321 providing relative translation of the display body 32 with respect to the fixed element 31 along the translation axis 39. The translation axis 38 is perpendicular to the rotation axis 38 of the display body 32.

The adjustment mechanism provides adaptability to the relative position of the display with respect to the user's eye by modifying (adjusting) the angular position of the display body about its axis of rotation. This allows for taking into account the specificity of the user, particularly the facial features of the user, and/or the manner in which the head-mounted element is positioned.

The sliding

links

311, 321 may be configured to indicate a plurality of discrete positions along the translation axis 39 in order to quickly provide repeatable positioning of the display body 32 along the translation axis 39. Preferably, the sliding

links

311, 321 are also configured to hold the display body 32 in one of the plurality of discrete positions, e.g., by a cooperating element.

As shown in fig. 3a, the slide guide 311 and the slider 321 of the sliding link may be provided by cooperating tongue and groove configured to generate a retaining force when the display body 32 is positioned at one of these discrete positions along the translation axis 39.

The magnitude of the force holding the display main body in the desired position is preferably in the range of 5N to 50N (i.e., m-kg-s)²) More preferably in the range of 10N to 30N. These magnitudes allow the user to insert the display body 32 and move the display body 32 from one discrete position to another discrete position along the translation axis 39 in response to forces applied by the user's fingers, i.e., without the use of tools.

As shown in fig. 3a to 3e, therefore, the slide guide 311 provides quick and simple coupling of the display main body of the display device with the fixing member.

The coupling of the display main body of the display device to the fixing member includes the steps of: the slider 312 is inserted into the slide guide 311 of the display device 3 (fig. 3a to 3b) until the display body is positioned in the desired position along the translation axis 39 (fig. 3 c). Advantageously, the desired position may be determined during preliminary wear and/or verified by early use of the enhanced vision system 1, thereby enabling a faster coupling process.

Since the display device 3 is configured to rotate the display body 32 relative to the fixation element 31 by gravity and/or an elastic element, once the display body 32 is coupled to the fixation element 31, the display body tends to rotate relative to the fixation element 31, as schematically illustrated by the rotation 382 in fig. 3d, thereby moving the first surface away from the fixation element.

Thus, as schematically shown in fig. 3e, positioning the display device in front of the user's face 102 rotates the display body relative to the fixed element 31 about the rotational axis 38 up to a desired angular position 381.

As shown in fig. 4a to 4d, the use of the forehead of the user as a reference point for the face also provides better comfort for the display device 3 when used in conjunction with an airtight mask 90 that is forced against the face. Indeed, the larger surface provided by the forehead and the lack of soft tissue and cartilage characteristic of the forehead provides better pressure distribution and less sensitivity to sustained pressure relative to other facial regions, such as the nose and eye regions, which are typically used as contact surfaces.

The display device 3 may comprise a support 328 for receiving lenses 329 of the user, such as corrective lenses and anti-fatigue lenses. Advantageously, the support 328 is also configured to support the display 33.

The display device may comprise an electronic circuit 327, in particular for receiving images from the thermal sensing means (wirelessly), processing these received images, in particular for highlighting specific hot/cold elements and processing the images according to the user's preferences and/or configuration, and providing the processed images to the display 33.

An exemplary method of coupling the enhanced vision system 1 with a hood is shown in fig. 5 a-5 d.

The initial step is to prepare the head-mounted component, i.e., the airtight mask 90. This step comprises removably fixing the fixing element 31 to the airtight mask 90 (fig. 4 b). Then, the display main body 32 is rotationally coupled to the fixing member 31 (fig. 4 c). Note that this step includes the steps of: the slider 312 is inserted into the slide guide 311 until the display body 32 is relatively positioned at a desired position with respect to the fixed element along the translation axis 39 (fig. 3a to 3 c).

Once the airtight mask 90 is pushed against the user's face, the first surface portion 325 will come into contact with the user's forehead, thereby rotating the display main body 32 about the rotation axis to the predefined angular position 381. As mentioned above, the predefined angular position 381 may be maintained by a spring force acting between the fixation element and the display body and/or by gravity, thereby avoiding rotational movement of the display body in response to accelerations and/or vibrations affecting the head-mounted part.

Alternatively or additionally, as shown in the exemplary embodiment of fig. 4d, when the headset member 90 is positioned on the face of the user, the display body 32 may include a second surface portion 326 configured to contact the fixation element 31 and/or a portion of the headset member 90. Advantageously, the second surface 326 is located on the opposite side (substantially) with respect to the first surface 325, so that when the mask is pressed against the face of the user, a reaction force is generated to allow the main display to be held in a predefined angular position.

Advantageously, the display body 32 may further comprise an elastic portion operating between the first surface portion 325 and the second surface 326 for elastically adapting the distance between the first surface and the second surface, in particular the shortest distance between the first surface and the second surface, thereby reducing the pressure exerted by the display body on the forehead of the user.

This allows comfortable use of the AV system 1 with an airtight mask that is forced against the user's face to provide an airtight function.

The

adjustment mechanisms

311, 321 not only allow for repeatedly positioning the display in a desired position relative to the user's eyes, but also adjust (significantly reduce) the pressure transmitted to the forehead through the fixation element and/or the second surface 326.

Advantageously, the display 33 is pivotally mounted on the display body 32 (in particular on its support 328) so as to provide adjustment of the angular position of the display surface about an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation 38 of the display device 3. This arrangement allows the user to adapt the relative inclination of the display surface with respect to the user's eyes (when operatively positioned in front of the face) to optimize the visibility of the displayed image.

The airtight mask 90 may be a separate mask configured to be secured directly to the user's head, for example, by means of elastic bands or a stand. Alternatively or additionally, the airtight mask 90 may be configured to be securable to (or be part of) a hood, which is typically a protective hood 9, as in the exemplary embodiment of fig. 4 a-4 d.

The method for coupling the enhanced vision system 1 may comprise the steps of: the heat sensing means 2 is fixed to the head-piece, in particular to the same protective helmet 9 (see fig. 4d) that is coupled to the airtight mask.

The stationary thermal sensing means 2 comprises the steps of:

fastening the thermal sensing means 2, in particular the thermal camera 221, to the hood 9; and is

When the head mount 90 is positioned in front of the face 102 and the user wears the hood, the sensing direction 223 of the heat camera, in particular the direction of the heat camera 221 with respect to the hood 9, is adjusted.

Fig. 5a to 5d illustrate an exemplary method for attaching the thermal sensing device 2 of fig. 6 to a head covering, and in particular to the safety helmet 9 of fig. 1.

The illustrated thermal sensing device 2 includes:

a head-mounted base 21;

a sensing body 22 coupled to the base and including a thermal camera 221; and

a camera adjustment mechanism 23 for adjusting the orientation of the thermal camera 221 relative to the sensing direction 223 of the head-mounted base 21, e.g., relative to its orientation 213.

The sensing body 22 may include electronic circuitry for controlling the acquisition of images and for transmitting the acquired images to the display 33. The sensing body 22 may also include a power on/off button 227 for powering the electronic circuitry.

Once the head-mounted base 21 is permanently fixed to the helmet, preferably to the top or side of the helmet, the sensing body can be fixed to the head-mounted base 21 (fig. 5 a). For example, removably securing sensing bodies allows for AV systems to be managed within a team of professionals by individually assigning a series of sensing bodies to the professionals of the team while sharing a reduced number of safety helmets.

In the embodiment shown, the sensing body 22 is removably coupled to the headset base 21 by sliding the sliding element 228 of the sensing body into the sliding groove 211 of the headset base 21 until its stop end 212 (fig. 5 b).

When the thermal sensing device 2 is mounted on the head housing, the user may adjust the sensing direction 223 via the camera adjustment mechanism to align and/or correlate the sensed target (e.g., the field of view of the thermal camera) with the user's field of view.

The camera adjustment mechanism is configured to provide the user with a sensing direction 223 that adapts the thermal camera 221 relative to the head-mounted base 21, thereby allowing the user to spatially associate displayed targets with targets within the user's field of view. Thus, the camera adjustment mechanism may be configured to provide indexed positions relative to the head mount 21, each position providing a different sensing direction 223 of the thermal camera 221 along one or more (particularly two perpendicular) directions.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the head-mounted base 21 is fixed to the thermal sensing device 2 such that the sensing direction 223 of the thermal sensing device 2 is within an imaginary plane 225, which imaginary plane 225 is substantially perpendicular (e.g. +/-10 °) to an imaginary line 103 (see fig. 5c) through the user's eye 101 when the user wears the hood.

This securement allows the user to sense a target located in front of the user's face while wearing the hood. The camera adjustment mechanism of this embodiment is then configured to enable the user to adjust the angular position (a) of the sensing direction 223 relative to the head-mounted base 21, which is unique within the imaginary plane 225. The camera adjustment mechanism may be configured to enable a user to adjust the angular position (a) over a range b of at least 10 °. Preferably, the camera adjustment mechanism may be configured to provide an angle of up to-10 °/+20 ° with respect to the default angular position adjustment. In extreme cases, the camera adjustment mechanism may be configured to provide an angle of up to-40 °/+60 ° adjustment relative to the default angular position.

Preferably, the camera adjustment mechanism is configured to enable a user to adjust the angular position (a) of the sensing direction 223 about an axis of rotation 24 when the user is wearing the hood, the axis of rotation 24 being substantially parallel (e.g., +/-10 °) to an imaginary line through the eye 101.

These arrangements reduce the activation time by limiting the adjustment to a single degree of freedom.

In addition, the camera adjustment mechanism also includes an adjustment element, in particular an adjustment ring 224, which is accessible by the user's finger to adjust the angular position. As shown in fig. 5d, the angular position of the fine tuning sensing direction 223 (e.g., the field of view of the thermal camera) is provided to the user while the user is made to see the results on the display 33.

In the embodiment of fig. 4 and 5, the display device is removably secured to the protective visor 91 of the face mask 90 by a U-shaped resilient securing element 31. The fixation element is made, in whole or in part, of an elastic material and is configured to provide an elastic force acting on one or more different portions of the headset 90 in order to removably retain the fixation element 31 on the headset 90.

Such as removably securing the display device, provides for the securing of standard and customizable headgear components without the need to change and/or damage its structure. In particular, such removable fixing does not damage the functionality and technical features of the head-worn component, especially in the case of protective head-worn components.

Fig. 8 to 11 show other particular embodiments of the display device, in particular the way in which the display device is fixed to a head-mounted part (e.g. goggles 93) by means of its fixing elements 31a to 31 e.

In the embodiment of fig. 8, the display device is removably secured inside the head-mounted part 93 by a securing element 31 a. The fixation element 31a is made in whole or in part of an elastic material and is configured to be compressible so as to geometrically fit side-to-side to the inner contour of the headset 93. Thus, the elastic material provides a retaining spring force that acts on the inner surface of the headset 90. Preferably, the fixing member 31a may be coated with an anti-slip layer to promote adhesion.

In the embodiment of fig. 9, the display device is removably secured to an upper portion of the head-mounted member 93 by a securing element 31 b. The fixation element 31b, preferably made entirely or partially of an elastic material, comprises a U-shaped portion for receiving (in particular enveloping) the upper profile of the head-mounted part 93.

In the embodiment of fig. 10, the display device is removably secured to the exterior of the head-mounted component 93 by a securing element 31 c. The fixation element 31c is made entirely or partially of an elastic material and is configured to deform so as to geometrically fit, side-to-side, the outer contour of the headset 93. Thus, the elastic material provides a retaining elastic force acting on the outer surface of the head-mounted part 90, and preferably, the fixing element 31c may be coated with a slip-proof layer.

In the embodiment of fig. 11, the display device is removably secured to the head mounted component 93 by two-part securing elements 31d, which must be placed on opposite sides of the head mounted component 93. The first and second portions of the fixation element 31e may be joined together by, for example, a magnetic element 93.

Alternatively, the display device may be secured to the head-mounted component by one or more permanent securing elements, such as screws, nails, pins, rivets, glue, and/or adhesives.

Reference numerals

1 first plant body

2 thermal sensing device

21 base

211 sliding groove

212 stop end

213 orientation of the base

22 sensing body

221 thermal camera

222 optical lens or assembly

223 sensing direction

224 adjusting ring

225 imaginary plane

226 electronic circuit

227 on/off button

228 sliding block

24 axis of rotation

3 display device

31. 31a to 31e fixing mechanism

311 sliding guide

312 magnet

32 display main body

321 slide block

322 coupling element

323 axle

325 forehead surface

326 surface of head-mounted component

327 electronic circuit

328 lens support

329 lens/lens set

33 display

331 thermal image

38 axis of rotation

380 angular position

381 predefined angular position

382 reverse rotation

383 rotate

39 axis of translation

4 Wireless channel

9 protective head cover

90 protective face mask

91 protective visor

93 goggles

100 users

101 eye

102 face of human body

103 imaginary line

a sensing the angle between the direction and the base

b range of angle adjustment

Claims

1. An enhanced vision system (1) comprising:

display device (3) comprising:

a fixation element (31) for coupling the display device (3) to a head-mounted part (90), the head-mounted part (90) being configured to be positioned in front of a face (102) of a user (100), and

a display body (32) coupled to the fixed element (31) by a pivoting link (321, 322, 323), the pivoting link (321, 322, 323) providing rotation of the display body relative to the fixed element about a rotation axis (38);

wherein the display main body (32) includes:

a display (33) configured to display thermal data and/or a thermal image (331) provided by the thermal sensing device (2); and

a first surface portion (325) configured such that when the head-mounted component (90) is positioned in front of the user's face, the first surface portion (325) contacts the user's forehead, thereby rotating the display body (32) about the rotation axis (38) to a predefined angular position (381).

2. The augmented vision system of claim 1, wherein the pivot link provides at least 5 ° of free rotation of the display body about the axis of rotation (38).

3. An enhanced vision system as claimed in any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein said display device (3) comprises an adjustment mechanism (311, 321) providing a relative translation of said first surface portion (325) with respect to said fixed element (31).

4. The augmented vision system of claim 3, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a sliding link (311, 321) providing relative translation of the display body (32) relative to the fixed element (31) along the translation axis (39), the translation axis (39) being perpendicular to the rotation axis (38).

5. The augmented vision system of claim 4, wherein the sliding link (311, 321) is configured to indicate a plurality of discrete positions along the translation axis (39);

preferably, the sliding link (311, 321) is configured to hold the display body (32) when the display body (32) is positioned in one of the plurality of discrete positions relative to the fixing element (31).

6. The enhanced vision system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, said display device (3) being configured to rotate said display body (32) to push said first surface portion (325) against the forehead of said user when said head-mounted part (90) is positioned on the face of said user.

7. The enhanced vision system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said display device (3) comprises an elastic element operating between said display body (32) and said fixing element (31).

8. The enhanced vision system of claim 6, wherein the display body (32) includes a second surface portion (326) configured to contact the fixation element (31) and/or a portion of the head-mounted component (90) when the head-mounted component (90) is positioned in front of the user's face; preferably, the display body (32) comprises a resilient portion operating between the first surface portion (325) and the second surface (326).

9. An enhanced vision system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said axis of rotation (38) is substantially parallel to an imaginary line (103) passing through the eyes (101) of the user when said head-mounted component (90) is positioned in front of the face of the user.

10. Enhanced vision system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said display device (32) is removable from said fixed element (31), preferably by means of said sliding link (311, 321).

11. The augmented vision system of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the fixation element (31) is removably secured to the headset (90).

12. The hood of claim 11, wherein the securing element comprises at least an elastic portion configured to provide a spring force acting on one or more different portions of the headgear (90) so as to removably retain the securing element (31) on the headgear (90).

13. The augmented vision system of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the head-mounted component (90) is configured to be urged against a face (102) of the user (100).

14. An enhanced vision system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein said display is a see-through display (33).

15. An enhanced vision system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein said thermal sensing means (2) is a head-mounted thermal sensing means (2); preferably, the thermal sensing device is configured to provide the thermal data and/or thermal image to the display over a wireless link (4).

16. An enhanced vision system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, said thermal sensing means (2) comprising:

a head-mounted base (21);

a sensing body (22) coupled to the base and comprising a thermal camera (221) for sensing a temperature of an object in a sensing direction (223);

a camera adjustment mechanism for adjusting an angular position (a) of the thermal camera (221) relative to a sensing direction (223) of the head-mounted base (21), preferably about a rotational axis (24) direction.

17. The enhanced vision system of claim 16, wherein the heat camera (22) is removably coupled to the head-mounted base.

18. An enhanced vision system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein said head-mounted thermal sensing means (2) is fastened to the hood (9), preferably by said head-mounted base (21).

19. Hood according to claim 18, wherein the head-mounted part (90) is coupled with the hood (9), preferably by means of the elastic element, so as to provide a spring force pushing the head-mounted part (90) against the face (102) of the user (100).

20. Hood according to any one of claims 18 and 19, said hood (9) being a protective hood, in particular a fireman helmet (9), a soldier helmet, a police helmet, a rescuer helmet, a bicycle helmet or a driver helmet.

21. An enhanced vision system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein said head-mounted component (90) is a visor, a face mask, a face shield or a visor (90) of said hood (9).

22. A method of wearing an enhanced vision system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21, said method comprising the steps of:

securing a fixation element (31) of a display device (3) to a head-mounted part (90), the head-mounted part (90) being configured to be positioned in front of a face (102) of a user (100);

rotatably coupling a display main body (32) of a display device (3) to the fixing element (31); and

-rotating the display body (32) around a rotation axis (38) to a given angular position with respect to the fixation element (31) by positioning the head-mounted part (90) in front of the face (102) of the user (100).

23. The method of claim 22, wherein coupling the display body comprises:

positioning the display body (32) relative to the fixation element (31) along a translation axis (39), the translation axis (39) being perpendicular to a rotation axis (38) of the display body (32).

24. The method according to any one of claims 22 and 23, comprising the steps of:

securing a thermal camera (221) to the hood (9); adjusting a sensing direction (223) of the thermal camera (221) relative to the hood (9) when the head-mounted part (90) is positioned in front of the face (102) of the user (100).